From Idea to Project Outline

The School's degree programmes are designed to offer different perspectives on the discipline and it is inevitable that students will be prepared better for certain types of projects depending on the modules they have studied. When developing a project idea you should ask yourself:

• Which modules will the work draw upon?
• In what ways will the work go beyond module content?
• Is the project consistent with my degree programme?

Irrespective of topic, all projects are assessed against the same criteria, and are subject to the same quality assurance procedures. A project topic will be characterised according to what it sets out to produce. The following guidelines identify four types of project topic: integrated systems development; independent systems development; computation and modelling; evaluation.

Developing integrated systems involves the design and implementation of a subsystem which adds to or extends work done by others. In producing a project outline, the following questions should be considered:

• What system am I adding to or extending?
• How will I analyse the context for the new development?
• What methodology will I use?
• What tools will I use?
• Will I include both a design and implementation (which may or may not involve programming)?
• Will I be able to evaluate my work both in terms of technical success and user acceptance?

Integrated systems topics may or may not involve delivering a database. Guidelines for database topics are available.

Independent systems are software developments which lead to full applications. Where the project focuses on the implementation phase, skills in using programming languages are likely to be necessary. In producing a project outline, the following questions should be considered:

• Which software engineering methodology will I employ?
• Will I describe the complete systems development process?
• Which phases of the development process will I pursue in detail?
• What tools will I use?

Software Engineering guidelines are available.

Computation and modelling projects do not have as their primary concern the production of software, but may demonstrate understanding and achievement via e.g., prototyping, proof of concept software, etc. This type of project may be research focused. In producing a project outline, the following questions should be considered:

• What contribution will I make to the area?
• What type of background understanding will I need to demonstrate?
• How will I develop my work to produce clear objectives?
• What deliverables will I produce?
• How will I exceed my minimum requirements?

Evaluation projects also do not set out to produce software as their primary aim, though again this does not rule out the production of software which substantiates claims made in the report. In producing a project outline, the following questions should be considered:

• How do I choose a methodology and account for the choice?
• What data will I use and how will I obtain it?
• What limitations will affect my conclusions?
• Given these limitation, how useful will my findings be?

Guidelines on qualitative approaches and quantitative approaches are available.

This above list is for guidance only, but if you wish to propose a topic outside these parameters you should produce an equivalent set of questions, seek the approval of your supervisor and include your questions and answers as part of your mid-project report.